If you’re not acquainted with the concept, here’s what you need to know. The FCC created the principle that Internet service providers (ISPs) should treat all data equally — not charge different rates based on user, content, site, platform or application. ( I wrote about this last month).

Timeline

February 19 – The FCC said it would not appeal the decision, but would craft new rules to prevent disparate pricing. This was seen as a benefit to heavy content providers — companies like Netflix — who were paying a premium to reach their customers at the highest speeds.

April 23 – The FCC, in a seeming total stance shift, signaled it would propose new rules that would allow big companies (like Netflix or Amazon) to pay ISPs for special, faster lanes to deliver content more speedily to consumers. The Internet exploded with negative commentary from a variety of sources.

May 15 – To mitigate backlash, the FCC launched a “Notice of Proposed Rule Making” seeking public comment on how best to protect and promote an open Internet.

June 3 – Comedian John Oliver did a 13-minute net neutrality segment on his HBO show Last Week Tonight. He urged viewers to comment, and the resulting activity crashed the FCC’s website. More than 45,000 comments were posted and more than 300,000 emails were sent to a special FCC inbox. (The highest number of formal comments received by the FCC had been 2000.)

As CEO of Optimal Networks, Heinan Landa has been providing managed IT services—including a premier corporate cloud solution and business-focused strategic IT consulting—to hundreds of clients since 1991. After earning his BS and MS from Johns Hopkins and an MBA from Wharton, Heinan crafted Optimal’s business plan with heavy emphasis on corporate culture. He and the self-professed “Optimalites” use their high spirit to fuel a commitment to unwavering client service and technology guidance.